Fever Make Winning Start to NZ Road Trip
West Coast Fever has claimed its fourth win of the 2013 ANZ Championship season with a 64-55 win over the Tactix in Nelson, New Zealand.
It was the Fever’s first game of a two-match road-trip, with the Perth team due to take on the Central Pulse in Wellington next Sunday.
Fever capitalised on Tactix turnovers to break open leads of four goals several times throughout the first quarter, but the home side stayed in touch to reduce the Fever’s lead to two goals at the first break, 19-17.
Trying to keep up the frenetic pace, the Fever turned it into a real scrap in the second quarter and went on a seven-goal unanswered run to open up an eight-goal lead.
With captain Catherin Cox providing plenty of leads and working on the defensive side of her game from goal attack, the Fever held an 11-goal lead at one stage in the term.
The Tactix however, scored six of the last nine goals to reduce the margin to seven at half-time (32-25) to ensure a competitive second half contest.
Fever made the most of their opportunities after forcing the Tactix into plenty turnovers in the first half with their focus on getting hands on the ball. Cox and Caitlin Bassett (WAIS) shot at 86 percent for the half, whilst the hosts shot at 71 percent.
With Verity Simmons (WAIS) running hard from wing attack and Shae Bolton (WAIS) from centre, the Fever added more run by bringing Chanel Gomes onto wing attack and benching Andrea Gilmore (WAIS) for a well deserved rest as they continued to build on their half-time advantage.
When the Tactix called an injury time inside of four minutes to play in the third quarter, Fever coach Norma Plummer took the opportunity to move Simmons into centre and Bolton to wing attack.
The Fever were on their way to holding an 11-goal advantage at three quarter time when Cox went down with an ankle injury with 19 seconds to play in the third quarter.
Cox landed on the ankle of opponent Zoe Walker and was taken from the court, following the match however, she described it as a “stinger” and confirmed the pain had gone.
WAIS scholarship holder Kate Beveridge came on to replace Cox and made two of her three attempts for the game as the Fever pushed its lead by as many as 15 goals in the fourth quarter. The Tactix pegged back to nine by the final whistle, but were clearly second best to a Fever side impressive over four quarters.
Fever take on the Central Pulse on Sunday, May 26 in Wellington. Their next home game is on Sunday, June 9 at Challenge Stadium against the Queensland Firebirds at 10.10am.
– Netball WA